All Blacks coach Steve Hansen sends warning signal to his players after Samoa Test

THE All Blacks will prepare for one of the great adjustments in Test rugby with words of warning ringing in their ears from Steve Hansen.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is dressed by women of Vaiala village prior to a ceremony making him a Honorary High Chief Of Vaiala.

THE All Blacks will prepare for one of the great adjustments in Test rugby with words of warning ringing in their ears from Steve Hansen.

The coach was unimpressed with elements of their season-opening 25-16 win over Samoa in Apia, even when taking into consideration the heat, the rustiness of the players and the absence of Highlanders and Hurricanes players involved in the Super Rugby final last weekend.

He is demanding considerable improvement for the opening Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on Friday next week in wintry Christchurch, where a temperature drop of about 25 degrees must be factored in.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is dressed by women of Vaiala village prior to a ceremony making him a Honorary High Chief Of Vaiala.

Several unnamed players have plenty to prove after Hansen delivered his verdict on how the team struggled to cope with the intensity of the world No 9 ranked Samoans on Wednesday.

“Some guys coped with it and others didn’t, so we got answers there,” he said.

“We’re nowhere near where we need to be. It wasn’t as good a performance as we were hoping for but there were a number of factors.”

More than two-thirds of his team hadn’t played for the previous three weeks, while the draining humidity was something they were never going to be prepared for, given they arrived in Samoa less 48 hours before kick-off.

The challenging nature of the Test was a positive because of the lessons learned and the realisation they have a long way to go in the Rugby Championship.

“There’s no point us panicking. We’ve got a base camp and now we can keep working and keep going up.

“We know we’ve got to go a long way up if we’re going to be really competitive.”

Hansen faces a selection juggle next week, with the 17 players involved in the Super Rugby final becoming available again.

They will arrive in Christchurch on Friday, one day before the Samoan returnees.

Changes are likely but Hansen is giving few clues about how many.

He will farewell the six players who were additions to his original squad: Seta Tamanivalu, Tom Taylor and Ofa Tu’ungafasi, plus three who made their debuts in Apia — George Moala, Brad Weber and Charlie Ngatai.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen drinks kava during a ceremony making him a Honorary High Chief Of Vaiala.

Another to make his debut, prop Nepo Laulala, remains as injury cover for the injured Charlie Faumuina while halfback Andy Ellis does the same for Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Kerr-Barlow makes his international return from a long-term knee injury for the Maori All Blacks against Fiji in Suva on Saturday.

Maori captain Ngatai was to join them from Apia.

Hansen was relieved the bruising Samoan Test hadn’t resulted in any major injuries.

Luke Romano of the All Blacks shows the scars of the Samoa match.

Luke Romano had suffered a gruesome facial injury but was cleared of any break by X-rays.

The lock was to undergo a further scan in New Zealand to confirm there was no fine crack to his cheekbone.

Meanwhile, Hansen was named an honorary chief of the Vaiala village at a ceremony in Apia on Thursday.

It took place at a fale near Apia Park and his matai title will be Tupuiovao Steve Hansen.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen poses for photos prior to a ceremony making him a Honorary High Chief Of Vaiala.

The ceremony was conducted by village high chief Patu Ativalu Tunupopo, who said the honour was bestowed because of Hansen’s leadership and the role he played in bringing the All Blacks to Samoa for the first time.

“It was very special and very humbling. I’m not sure if I’m worthy of being a chief but I’ll certainly accept it on behalf of the All Blacks,” Hansen told journalists.

Former Labour MP Winnie Laban is from the same village and played a role in organising the ceremony, along with brother, rugby identity Ken Laban.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi was one of several village elders in attendance.

The village is the birthplace of former All Black Eroni Clarke.

Originally published as All Blacks coach Steve Hansen sends warning signal to his players after Samoa Test